Smart Start Ignition Interlock

Reviews

• BB

  Bao

  Jun 10, 2026
  1.0
  My car decided not to start one day / interlock would not power up and when it did kept giving me "key not detected error". It took 3 locksmiths over 6 hours to finally get car to detect key / get past immobiliser/ignition system (which is gated by ignition interlock). It worked for about 2 weeks before i started having issues with the interlock not powering on/ coming on randomly, followed by "key not detected" followed by car just not getting power even with new battery. Locksmiths had to come out again and spent 3 more hours, and in the end the shop / locksmiths (i paid $300 to locksmith) came to the conclusion that the interlock is keeping them from starting up the car even with a brand new / freshly programmed key. They tried programming like 10 different keys. This is a part of many issues all ignition/electronic related that has been causing issues almost daily / weekly since it was installed in March. I've made many reports and all of it gets ignored / i get generic troubleshooting responses that imply everything is user error. I have been stranded 4 times on busy highway and intersections due to issues with the device malfunctioning (like asking me to blow every 2 minutes / not being able to detect that car is already on and then eventually locking me out for no reason). I had to pay for tows 4 times and finally towed it to this locations per advice from smart start customer support rep. Within 15 minutes of car being dropped off the store calls me to say "we thoroughly checked everything to determine it is not our fault, and you have 24 hours to tow this out before we tow at your expense". They said i had no business being there even though i have text transcripts from their customer service stating to tow it there for diagnosing. I also have an appointment there in 2 days for calibration but they are threatening to tow it in 2 hours from now. So i setup triple AAA so i can get cheaper tow as i am so broke from all this, and AAA says i have to wait 72 hours before i can use. I contacted them and they said it was okay to leave it as long as i am trying, and also because i have upcoming appointment anyways. Then i got an email from them today saying i have a few hours before it is towed at my expense. I tried calling back to explain and asked to speak to supervisor, and was told "i already spoke to supervisor and you have til noon". He did not speak to a supervisor because person i spoke to before this said it was fine i leave the car there until appointment / until triple AAA wait period is over as i cannot afford more tows. So i have their corporate telling me to take it to this shop as it is closest to me, for both diagnosing and for calibration appointment, and i have the shop itself telling me i have no business being there. And no where along this process of being given the runaround for weeks over just this 1 issue was i allowed to speak to a supervisor. Today i asked again to explain that the shop is refusing to service my vehicle / telling me i can't have it there, while their service reps keep telling me to take it there. When i asked to speak to supervisor, the shop employee just said "i already spoke to supervisor". Funny because person i spoke to before him was one who said it was fine to leave car there until my calibration appointment in 2 days. EDIT 11:40 6/10: When i spoke to them a few hours ago i said specifically not to remove the interlock device so the repair center can diagnose any issues potentially stemming from it. 40 minutes ago i had AAA tow driver call them to let them know he is on the way, and 2 minutes ago i got email saying they charged me for removal service. I did not authorize a removal as from what i understand removals have to be preauthorized, at least that's what they told me when i inquired before after being stranded for 4 days. In the email it says it was "removed per client's request" even though i specifically told the shop to leave it in there so Lexus can diagnose it.
• TM

  Taylor Mello

  Feb 16, 2026
  1.0
  Service center people are okay. Customer service reps have no problem talking down to you. They don't care what your financial situation is whether you're single making 100k a year or supporting a family of 5 on 30k a year. They just want their money. Rebecca in collections was talking over me, put my account in noncompliance, and put a hold on a my account. Fees for everything you are punished for not having the disposable income
• JM

  Josh Maynor

  Nov 19, 2025
  5.0
  Calibration seems on point so far its agravating a lil but least its keep me goin tech guy didnt take to long
• JS

  Jeffery Smith

  Apr 8, 2022
  1.0
  Worse service ever!!! Open and will not take service from me n others at time. Always give you a time to get there if not will not see u. I have a violation due to a miss test n only have 3 days and he open but telling me to come Monday. He opens 5 days a week 8-5. He is the worse

Frequently Asked Questions About Smart Start Ignition Interlock